Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXIX, Number 286, 15 July 1902 — BEIT OIITTHE METERS WATER CONSUMERS SAVE BY PAYING IN ADVANCE New System Makes the Rate Higher. Superintendent Submits Specifics' tions for New Distributing System [ARTICLE]

BEIT OIITTHE METERS WATER CONSUMERS SAVE BY PAYING IN ADVANCE New System Makes the Rate Higher. Superintendent Submits Specifics' tions for New Distributing System

A slight breexe was stirred, up at yesterday afternoon's session of the water commissioners by the announcement by Auditor Miner that some of the largest water consumers In the southwestern section of the city had avoided the new meter rates by paying their water bills six months In advance before the meters were Installed. Superintendent Mulholland has been busily engaged for several weeks Installing the new meters on all property having a frontage of more than seventy feet. Some one put the property owners in the southwest "next." and they became so liberal in their advance payments that Auditor Miner thought it should be reported. Several of the charitable institutions of the city joined In a request that they be allowed a further reduction on their meter rates, and. after a ehort discussion, It was agreed that in the future charitable institution!- should be charged but 15 pe« cent o.\th* reaulai' rates. Superintendent Mulno'Jland announced that the new well In the river bed north of the Buena Vista street bridge had been completed, and that It was producing elghty-flve Inches of good, clear water. He said that another being sunk farther north, and that, from present Indications, a goodly supply of water wll) be developed. Superintendent Mulholland submitted specifications for a new reservoir and pump, which he claimed would Increase the pressure In the down town district thirty pounds to the inch. The reservoir ran be constructed and the mains laid at an expense of about $125,000. Com- ! mlssioner Drake argued that something must be done to create a greater pressure in the business center of the city, as the ■ insurance companies were all putting up i their rates because there was Inadequate I lire protection. j The meter question bobbed up again ( when Auditor Miner asked to be in- ! structed as to the proper course to pursue where the meters were placed on the property in the middle of the month. This brought on a discussion of how much higher the rate would be under the meter system, and Superintendent Mulholland admitted that in some cases it was as much as six times as high as the rate charged by the old water company.